Mandelson meets plant manufacturers to discuss industry challenges

The plant manufacturers have taken their concerns about current trading conditions to the government.  

Dr Tim Leverton, president of the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) and council member of the Construction Equipment Association in the UK, met Lord Mandelson, Ian Pearson MP and BERR officials to voice the industry’s concerns.

The meeting gave Dr Leverton an opportunity to brief Lord Mandelson on the unprecedented challenges now facing the construction equipment sector and was described as ‘constructive and open’.
 
Dr Leverton, who is also group engineering director at JCB, said the meeting allowed the construction equipment and wider automotive industry to provide information and feedback to the Secretary of State. “It was agreed that we would jointly address a range of solutions, not least the effects of an extreme lack of liquidity in the system, as a matter of urgency.

“All parties were intent on improving the situation for both OEMs and our crucial supply base. I was also able to raise the continuing problem of illegal non-compliant plant entering the EU - and the need for greater flexibility in the introduction of emissions standards".
 
CECE is to meet EU Commission Vice-President Gunther Verheugen to discuss pan-European solutions.